Electric railway-station indicator



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. G. H. ,KIRWAN AIEILIEIGTRIG RAILWAY S'IAIION INDICATOR.

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\ G.H. KIRWAN.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY STATION INDICATOR.

Patented Aug. 28, 41888.4

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G. H. KIRWAN.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY STATION INDICATOR. No. 888,890. Patented Aug. 281888.

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MTE STATES ATENT OEEicE..

ELECTRIC RAI LWAYl-,STTION INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 388,690, dated August28, 1888.

Application filed March 27, 1888.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE H. KIEWAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Wilkes-Barr, in the county of Luzerne and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in ElectricRailway-` Station Indicators, of which the following is a specification.a

My invention relates to an improvement in electric railway-stationindicators; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combinationof devices, that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a horizontal sectional view ofan electric railway-station indicator embodying myirnprovements. Fig. 2is a vertical sectional view of the same, taken on the line x x of Fig.l, `and looking in the direction indicated by the arrow a in the saidfigure. Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on the same line, looking in thedirection indicated bythe arrow b. Fig. 4 is a detailed elevation of thecombined switch and annunciating operating mechanism. Figs. 5, 6, and 7are detail views.

A represents an inclosing-case of suitable size and shape, the upperportion of the said case being hinged to thelower portion thereof andadapted to be opened so as to permit access to the mechanism in thecase. In the front side of the case is a horizontal opening, B, ofsuitable length and width, and said open- 4ing is covered by a glasspane.

C represents a frame, which is arranged in the inclosing-case, issecured to the lower side thereof, and is provided with standards D atits ends. The front side of this frame is arranged opposite the openingB in the case, and in the lower and upper front corners of the saidframe are arranged guiding rollers E, which are journaled in suitablebearings in the standards D.

F represents a shaft, which is journaled in said standard onsubstantially the saine plane with and at a suitable distance in rear ofthe upper roller, E. The said shaft Fhas a spindle, G, at one end, whichprojects beyond one end of the frame, and on the said shaft, at suitabledistances from the ends thereof, are collars or circular flanges H. Thatportion of the shaft which is between the said collars or Serial No.268,700. (No model.)

flanges is provided with a radial longitudinal slot, I, of suitabledepth, and on one side of the shaft is hinged a spring-actuated clasp,K, which is adapted to t snugly on the shaft, so as to nearly cover theslot I. The spring which engages the said clasp forces the latternormally against the side of the shaft. From one side of the projectingspindle of shaft F, near the inner end of the said spindle, projects apin or stud, L.

M represents a gear-wheel, which is loosely journaled on the saidprojecting spindle, and said gear-wheel has on its inner side aprojecting collar or hub, N, provided with a notch or recess, O, thesaid notch or recess being adapted to receive the stud or pin L, andthereby lock the said wheel to the shaft F. A spring, l?, bears againstthe outer side of the hub of wheel M and forces the latter normallyinward on the spindle G, so as to keep the recess of its hub inengagement with the pin or stud I.. It will be understood that the saidhub or pin and said notched hub or collar constitute a clutch, by meansof which the wheel M may be connected to or disconnected from the shaftF.

R represents a lever, which is fulcrumed on a suitable support andengages theinner side of wheel M, the function of the said lever beingto move the said wheel outward on the spinard and the case T is securedthe inner end-of a volute spring, U. The outer end of said spring issecured to a pin that projects from the standard, as shown. The oppositestandard has an open upwardly-inclined slot, V.

W represents a roller, which has a spindle at one end adapted to enterthe slot V, and is provided at the opposite end with a squared opening,which is adapted to receive -the squared projecting end of thespring-spindle S, so as to secure the said roller to the said springspindle, and thereby cause the said spindle to rotate with the saidroller. This construction also enables the roller to be readily removedfrom the frame C, for the purpose to be hereinafter stated.

X represents a scroll or apron, which is made of cloth or other flexiblematerial. The said scroll or apron has one end attached firmly to theroller W, is rolled on the said roller, and the free end of the saidscroll is passed under the lower roller E, over the upper roller E, andis then inserted in the slot Iof the shaft F and secured to the saidshaft by means of the spring-clasp K. The end of this scroll or apron istipped with metal, as at Y, to enable it to be readily inserted in the-slot I. portion of the scroll or apron which is stretched between therollers E is displayed through the opening B, and on the said apron orscroll, throughout the entire length thereof, are painted or inscribedthe names of the stations on the railroad,from the starting stati on tothe terminal point thereof, in regular order, care being taken to havethe said names slightly farther apart on the scroll or apron, startingfrom the free end thereof, so as to compensate for thegradually-increasing diameter of the scroll or apron as the same iswound upon the shaft F and unwound from the roller W. Vhen this part ofmy invention is in its initial arrangement, the scroll is almostentirely wound upon the roller VvT and the spring U is entirely unwound.The said spring is coiled in the opposite direction from the scroll onthe roller W, so that as the said scroll is unwound from the roller WVand becomes wound upon the shaft F the said spring will be graduallywound.

Z represents a frame, which is secured in the-lower side of the case-A,opposite the end of frame C, on which the wheel M isjournaled. In theupper side of the said frame Z is journaled a shaft, A', on which isrigidly secured a ratchet-wheel, B'. Loosely mounted on the said shaftisaspur-wheel, C', which is provided with a spring-actuated pawl, D', thatengages the ratchet-wheel, and thereby locks the said wheel to the shaftwhen the latter is turning` in one direction, and enables the said wheelto slip idly on the shaft when the latter is turning in the oppositedirection.

E' represents a volute spring, which has its outer end secured to asuitable post on the frame Z, and has its inner end secured rigidly tothe shaft A'. The said shaft A' is adapted to fit a suitable key, suchas are commonly employed for winding clocks, and thereby said shaft maybe turned while the wheel C' remains stationary, and caused to wind upthe spring E'.

F' represents a shaft, which is journaled in the frame Z below the shaftA', is provided with a pinion, G', that meshes with the wheel C', has aspur-wheel, H', and is provided at one end, which projects from theinner side of the frame Z toward the frame C, with a spurwheel, I',which engages the wheel M on the shaft F. The said wheel I' is made ofbrass or other suitable conducting material, and is provided with anopening, K', and the frame ThatV Z and the shaft F' are also made ofconducting material. Y

L' represents a circular disk, which is rigidly secured to the shaft F',and is provided on one side with a peripheral notch, M'.

N' represents a shaft, which is journaled in the frame Z, has a pinion,O', that meshes with the wheel H', vand has a spur-wheel, P'.

R' represents a shaft journaled in frame Z, and having a pinion, vS',that engages Wheel P', and a spur-wheel, T', that engages a pinion, U',on a shaft, V'. provided with a balance-fan, W'.

X' represents a horseshoe electro-magnet. An armature, Y', is journaledin suitable bearings, Z', and is arranged over the poles of theelectro-magnet, and from the said armature projects a rocking arm, A2,having at its outer end a pin or stop, B2, which is adapted toengage'the notch M' of the disk L'. From the said rock-arm depends astop pin or rod, C",

which is arranged in the path of the escapement-fan W', and is engagedwith the said fan when the arm has its stop-pin inengagement with thenotch disk, and thereby the train of gear -wheels hereinbefore describedis prevented from being rotated by the spring E',

and consequently the latter is prevented from running down.

D2 represents an electrical switch-arm, which is resilient, and has itsfree end arranged in the center of the opening K' of the switchwheel I'when the spring-motor or train of gears is not in operation.

E2 represents an electrical bell, of suitable Well-known construction,which is secured to the front side of the case A or to any othersuitable support. A conducting-wire, 1, connects one electrode of thebell with the frame Z, and a wire, 2, connects the opposite electrode ofthe bell with the switch-arm D2. The case Ais secured in one end of arailway passenger-coach, where it is distinctly visible to thepassengers, and in the cab of the locomotive or in any other suitableportion of the train is a circuit-closer, 3, of the usual construction.

4 represents an electric generating-battery,

Said shaft V' is also l IOO IIO

which may also be located in the locomotivecab or in any other suitableplace on the train, and connecting the poles of the said battery withthe electrodes of the circuit-closer 5. One of the wires 5 is connectedto the wire 2, and is thereby putin circuit also with one of theelectrodes of the bell, and a wire, 6, connects the opposite wire 5 orelectrode of the battery with the switchwheel I' or wire, and therebyconnects the opposite electrode of the bell with the battery. Thecircuit-closer is normally open, as before stated. The switch, composedof the arm D2 and the wheel I', is also normally open,and thereby thebattery is connected in open circuit both with the electromagnet X' andthe electric magnet in the bell.

rlhe operation of my invention is as follows: l/Vhen the train reaches astation, the engineer or other person on the train appointed to do thework presses the button of the circuit closer, and thereby momentarilycloses the circuit including the electro-magnet X and the battery, andsaid electro-magnet is mo` mentarily excited and caused to attract itsarmature, which instantly raises the rock-arm A2 and causes the stoppinsthereof to disengage the notch in disk L" and to disengage theescapement-fan, and consequently set the spring-actuated motor inoperation and cause the switchwheel I to be put in motion. As soon asthe engineer releases the push-button of the circuit-closer, which hedoes in an instant, the circuit between the electro-magnet X and thebattery is broken, and thereby said electro-magnet ceases to attract thearmature. The rotary motion of the switch-wheel l causes the opening K',or insulator thereof, to move past the switch-arm or contactpoint D2,and consequently the latter comes in contact with the said switch-wheeland establishes electrical connection between the bell and the battery,as will be readily understood, and consequently the bell is sounded aslong as the said switch-wheel continues its movement. This rotary motionof the switch-wheel is communicated to the wheel M, which is gearedthereto; consequently the shaft F is caused to revolve, so as to partlywind or coil the outer end of the scroll onto the shaft F, uncoil orunroll the said scroll from the shaft or roller W, and therebymovethename of the station which was before displayed through theopening B from the said openingand cause the name of the next succeedingstation to be displayed through the said opening. The switch-wheel makesonly one revolution, and as soon as the open ing or insulator K thereofcomes opposite the point of the switch-arm, so as to open the circuitbetween the bell and the battery, and thereby interrupt the operationofthe bell, the rock-arm A2 by its own gravity causes its stoppins todrop into the notch ofthe disk L and into the path of the escapement fanW', and thereby arrest the motion of the mechanism, and consequentlycauses the name of the station which was last displayed through theopen' ing B to remain opposite the said opening until the nextsucceeding station is reached,and the operation before described isrepeated. By the time that the train reaches the terminal station thescroll has been completely unrolled froml the shaft W and rolled uponthe shaft F and the spring U is completely wound. The operator thenmoves the lever, so as to cause the wheel M to become disengaged fromthe shaft F, and the spring Uin unwinding im parts retrograde rotationto the shaft W and causes the same to instantly rewind the scrollthereon from the shaft F. The scroll is disengaged from the shaft F andshaft W, and a similar scroll in which the stations are arranged inreverse to those on the scroll previously used, and adapted for thereturn trip of the train, is mounted, as in the previous instance andthe ends of the scroll connected to the shafts F and W, as before.

By means of an ordinary electric switch the instrument in each car maybe cut out from the circuit, if desired; and suitable thumbscrewconductors or other similar devices will be used for connecting thewiresl between the cars, as will be readily understood.

-Having thus described my invention, I claiml.' The combination of thestation-indicator, the motor to operate the same, and provided with theswitchwheel and arm or contact, the armature having the arm to engageand disengage the motor, for the purpose set forth, the electro-magnetto operate the armature,

the battery, the circuit-closer, the bell, and

the open circuits connecting the electro-magnet to the circuit-closerand the battery and connecting the bell, the switch, and the battery,substantially as described. j

2. The combination, in a station-indicator, of the shaft F,the wheel M,loose thereon, the motor having the operating-Wheel engaging wheel M,the clutch to connect the said wheel to the said shaft, the lever tooperate said clutch, the shaft W, the spring U,connected thereto, andthe scroll or apron rolled on the shaft W and connected to the shaft F,whereby when the latter is rotated the scroll will be unrolled from theshaft W onto thevshaft F and the spring will be wound, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination of the spindle S, the spring U, attached thereto, theshaft W, having one end journaled in a suitable bearing and detachabletherefrom, the opposite end of said shaft being secured to the spindle,the operating-shaft F, the scroll normally rolled on the shaft W, andhaving its free end detachably connected to shaft F, the wheel M. looseon shaft F', the clutch to secure said wheel thereto, and the motorhaving the wheel engaging said wheel M, substantially as dey scribed.

4.. The combination of the station-indicator, the motor to operate thesame, providedwith the switch-wheel and with the revolving cam L',having thenotch M', the annunciator connected in open circuit with theswitch-wheel and with a battery, the armature having the arm providedwith the stop to engage the notch in the cam, and the electro-magnet tooperate the said armature, said electromagnet being connected in opencircuit with the battery and with acircuit-closer, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE H. KIEWAN.

Witnesses:

R. D. EVANS, H. W. SEARCH.

IOO

